None | May 11, 11:00

Growth-dependent action of cell-wall targeting antibiotics

Rosalind Allen

Many clinically relevant antibiotics target bacterial cell wall synthesis. Although it is known which antibiotics bind which cell wall synthesis enzymes, how this leads to bacterial growth inhibition and killing is unclear. We have measured growth curves for Escherichia coli bacteria in the presence of various cell-wall targeting antibiotics, on a variety of growth media. We see clear effects of growth rate on the antibiotic efficacy. I will discuss these results and present a preliminary mathematical model which seeks to explain them.


University of Edinburgh
Conference Room 2
Contact: not specified